Fixing Device For Fixing Toothed Elements To A Component Of A Textile Machine

ABSTRACT

A fixing device fixes toothed elements to a component of a textile machine. The component of the textile machine can be either a top comb, a circular comb or a card flat. The fixing device includes a stationary bearing surface for the toothed elements and a flexible spring leg for pressing the toothed elements to the bearing surface by use of a holding force. The fixing device includes a device for neutralizing the holding force of the spring leg.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2008 019 399.2, filed Apr. 14, 2008, the entire disclosure of which is herein expressly incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a fixing device for fixing toothed elements to a component of a textile machine, in particular to a top comb, a circular comb, or a card flat, including a stationary bearing surface for the toothed elements and a flexible spring leg for pressing the toothed elements to the bearing surface by way of a holding force.

The toothed elements on combs and card flats can be of various designs. The toothed elements can, for example, include needles. The toothed elements can just as well be designed as stamped parts, which include one or a number of teeth.

It is generally known that the toothed elements can be fixed to a supporting body by plastic deformation of a holding part or of a part of the supporting body. It can hereby occur that the material of the holding part is not deformed only plastically but also elastically, and that the elastic deformation recedes after the actual fixing process. The toothed elements are then not held securely by a holding force and can become loose again.

An improvement is disclosed in German published patent application DE 36 24 292 A1, in which a fixing device for sawtooth punched parts of the above mentioned type are provided. At least one flexible spring leg is provided which fixes the sawtooth punched parts with a defined holding force to the supporting body. The holding force acts continuously on the sawtooth elements so that they are prevented from becoming loose.

In the known arrangement it is provided that the spring leg is elastically deformed when applied to the sawtooth punched parts or to the supporting body. It is therefore necessary to overcome the holding force acting from the start when the sawtooth punched parts are applied. In the production process of the component of the textile machine, a number of toothed elements must be fixed to the component. A large number of sawtooth elements are arranged in close proximity to one another. The sawtooth elements must hereby be slid traversely to the working direction along the stationary bearing surface and along the elastic spring leg and mounted onto the supporting body. When sliding the sawtooth elements along the spring leg, a relative strong sliding force is necessary in the case of the known arrangement, as the holding force of the spring leg is effective directly at the start of the application of the toothed element. When the toothed elements are being replaced, each toothed element must be removed from the supporting body using a relatively high force while overcoming the holding force. Mounting and replacing the toothed elements is thus complex.

It is an object of the present invention to create a fixing device for toothed elements which enables a simple mounting of the toothed elements.

This object has been achieved in accordance with the present invention in that a device for neutralizing the holding force of the spring leg is provided.

A fixing device for toothed elements having a device for neutralizing the holding force of the spring leg has the advantage in that the holding force of the flexible spring leg can be deactivated during the mounting of the toothed element, thus providing that the adjacently mounted toothed elements can slide along the stationary bearing surface without meeting any resistance. Mounting the toothed elements in the take-up element is hereby simplified to a great extent. It ensures that the toothed elements are arranged adjacently without any intermediary spacing. Subsequent to the mounting of the toothed elements on the component of the textile preparatory machine, the device for neutralizing the holding force is deactivated, so that the spring leg presses the toothed elements to the bearing surface and fixes the toothed elements securely by use of its holding force. Further fixing elements for the toothed elements are not necessary. Advantageously the device for neutralizing the holding force deactivates the holding force of all toothed elements arranged adjacently in one row simultaneously.

Even in the case of a necessary replacement of worn toothed elements, the device for neutralizing the holding force has advantages. Not all the toothed elements have to be removed individually from their take-up, as is the case in prior art. Subsequent to activating the device for neutralizing the holding force, no holding force of the spring leg whatsoever acts on the toothed elements. The toothed elements fall out of their take-up by themselves and can be easily disposed of.

A fixing device according to the present invention is particularly advantageous for application in a top comb or a circular comb for a combing machine. A fixing device can also be applied in a very advantageous way for the fixing of the toothed elements to a card flat of a flat card. As these components comprising the toothed elements are separately handled objects, the protective rights should also extend to a top comb, a circular comb and a card flat.

In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention it is provided that the device for neutralizing the holding force is blockable against unintentional opening. When the device for neutralizing the holding force is locked subsequent to the mounting of the toothed elements in the component, the device for neutralizing the holding force is prevented from being unintentionally opened during transport and during the application of the component in the textile machine. Unintentional activating of the device for neutralizing the holding force can result in the toothed elements falling irretrievably out of their take-up. As a result of the blocking of the device for neutralizing the holding force, the holding force of the spring leg can also advantageously be increased.

In a further embodiment of the present invention it is provided that the stationary supporting surface and the spring leg are integrated in one piece in a supporting body for the toothed elements. The supporting body can, for example, be subsequently fixed to a circular comb. It can also be provided that the supporting body is formed, for example, directly by the head area of the blade of a top comb. The take-up for the toothed elements formed by the stationary bearing surface and the spring leg is integrated in a supporting body of the component of the textile machine. This embodiment is particularly advantageous when the basic material of the supporting body is made of a sufficiently flexible material, for example aluminum. If the supporting body is made of a less flexible material, it can also be advantageous to design the spring leg as a separate component and to fix it to the supporting body. In this case, the spring leg can, for example, be made of spring steel and can exert a relatively strong holding force on the toothed elements.

In the case of a spring leg integrated into the supporting body, it is advantageous when the supporting body includes a recess assigned to the spring leg, which recess can be closed by way of a bar adapted to the form of the recess for the purposes of blocking the device for neutralizing the holding force of the spring leg. Subsequent to the toothed elements being mounted in the take-up of the supporting body, the bar adapted to the form of the recess can be applied to the recess of the supporting body. When the bar is applied, the device for neutralizing the holding force is blocked and the holding force of the spring leg can no longer be released. Only when the bar is removed is the holding force of the spring leg releasable again.

In an advantageous embodiment, the device for neutralizing the holding force is formed by a lever arm connected with the spring leg for relieving the pressure of the spring leg. The lever arm for relieving the pressure can be formed advantageously in one piece with the spring leg.

Alternatively it can be provided that the device for neutralizing the holding force includes at least one take-up surface on the spring leg for an auxiliary tool for relieving the pressure of the spring leg. In order to deactivate the holding force, the auxiliary tool is applied to the spring leg and the spring leg opened.

These and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description thereof when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an enlarged side view of a schematically shown top comb including a fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a view according to FIG. 1 of another embodiment of the fixing device according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To exemplify a component 2 of a textile machine including toothed elements 1, a top comb for a combing machine is shown in FIG. 1. The top comb 2 includes essentially a blade 3, a fixing device 4 for the toothed elements 1, and the toothed elements 1 themselves. The top comb 2 is assembled in the combing machine in such a way that the toothed elements 1 comb through a fiber material consisting of staple fibers in working direction A. The actual dimension of the blade 3 as seen in working direction A lies in the range of several millimeters in thickness and, vertical to the drawing plane of FIG. 1, in the range of several hundred millimeters in width. The head of the blade 3 forms a supporting body 5 for the toothed elements 1.

The toothed elements 1 consist of punched out parts or needles, which sit with their base end 6 in a take-up 7 of the supporting body 5. The toothed elements 1 are held in the take-up 7 by the fixing device 4. The fixing device 4 includes a stationary supporting surface 8 for the toothed elements 1 and a flexible spring leg 9 for pressing the toothed elements 1 to the supporting surface 8 with a holding force B. In the position shown in FIG. 1, the spring leg 9 is already pre-loaded and presses against the toothed elements 1 with the holding force B.

The fixing device 4 includes a device 10 for neutralizing the holding force of the spring leg 9. The device 10 for neutralizing the holding force is formed by a lever arm 11 connected with the spring leg 9 for relieving the pressure of the spring leg 9.

The blade 3 of the top comb 2 can include a drawn profile made of a light metal, for example aluminum. The spring leg 9, the stationary supporting surface 8 and the lever arm 11 are integrated in one piece in the supporting body 5 or in the blade 3. The supporting body 5 includes a recess 12 assigned to the spring leg 9. The recess 12 gives rise to a virtual swivel axis 13, which is formed in the supporting body 5, and around which the spring leg 9 is swivel-mounted.

The device 10 for neutralizing the holding force is activated in that the lever arm 11 is loaded with a releasing force C, which causes the spring leg 9 to swivel in the direction of the arrow D around the swivel axis 13 and to release the toothed elements 1. The holding force B of the spring leg 9 is suspended and the toothed elements automatically fall out of the take-up 7. New toothed elements 1 can be mounted to the take-up 7 very easily. The mounted toothed elements are initially placed in a non-fixed position while being closely adjacent to one another. When all the toothed elements 1 are mounted over the entire working width of the top comb 2, the actuation of the device 10 is released. The force C is removed from the lever arm 11 and the spring leg 9 swivels back in the opposite direction of the arrow direction D and exerts its holding force B on the toothed elements 1. The toothed elements 1 are thus held securely in the supporting body 5 of the top comb 2. No further fixing elements are necessary.

To ensure against unintentional opening, the device 10 for neutralizing the holding force can be blocked subsequent to the mounting of the toothed elements 1. For this purpose a bar (not shown) can be provided, whose outer contour is adapted to the form of the recess 12. The bar can be slid transversely to the working direction A into the recess 12. When the recess 12 is blocked by the bar, the spring leg 9 cannot be swiveled around the virtual swivel axis 13 in direction D. Depending on the application, it can be sufficient that the bar does not extend over the entire working width of the top comb 2 and that the recess 12 is blocked only in the outer areas of the supporting body 5. It can be advantageous that the dimensions of the bar are so chosen that the bar can be pressed into the recess 12 using light pressure. The holding force B of the spring leg 9 can hereby be increased.

In FIG. 2 a top comb 2 is shown which has a somewhat differently designed device 20 for neutralizing the holding force on the fixing device 4 for the toothed elements 1. The same reference numbers denote the same parts as in FIG. 1 so that a repeat description can be omitted at this point.

The spring leg 9 is integrated into the supporting body 5 and can move around the virtual swivel axis 13 due to the recess 12. In the position shown, the spring leg 9 is pre-loaded and presses the toothed elements 1 with the holding force B against the stationary bearing surface 8. The device 20 for neutralizing the holding force of the spring leg 9 can be activated for the purposes of mounting and disassembly. The device 20 for neutralizing the holding force includes a take-up surface 21, which is applied to the spring leg 9 in the form of a groove. An auxiliary tool 22 for relieving the pressure of the spring leg 9 is provided, which takes the form of a rod extending over the entire width of the top comb 2, the rod having a working surface 23 assignable to the take-up surface 21. The working surface 23 engages, in the form of at least one shoulder, with the groove formed by the take-up surface 21. A lever arm 24 is arranged on the side of the auxiliary tool 22 facing away from the working surface 23, on which lever arm 24 a releasing force C can be exerted. By applying the releasing force C to the level arm 24, the holding force B of the spring leg 9 is suspended and the spring leg 9 is swiveled in the direction of the arrow D. The toothed elements 1 can then be mounted without difficulty in the take-up of the supporting body 5. When the toothed elements 1 are mounted, the auxiliary tool 22 is removed and the toothed elements 1 are held by the holding force B of the spring leg 9.

The device 20 for neutralizing the holding force in FIG. 2 can also be blocked by closing the recess 12 by use of a bar (not shown) adapted to the form of the recess 12, so that the spring leg 9 cannot be swiveled in the direction of the arrow D around the swivel axis 13.

The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof. 

1. A fixing device for fixing toothed elements to a component of a textile machine, comprising: a stationary bearing surface against which the toothed elements bear; a flexible spring leg for pressing the toothed elements against the bearing surface, the flexible spring leg applying a holding force; and a device for neutralizing the holding force of the spring leg.
 2. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the component of the textile machine is one of a top comb, a circular comb, and a card flat.
 3. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the device for neutralizing the holding force is blockable against an unintentional neutralizing of the holding force.
 4. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible spring leg and the stationary bearing surface for the toothed elements are integrated in a one-piece supporting body for supporting the toothed elements.
 5. The fixing device according to claim 2, wherein the flexible spring leg and the stationary bearing surface for the toothed elements are integrated in a one-piece supporting body for supporting the toothed elements.
 6. The fixing device according to claim 4, wherein the supporting body comprises a recess assigned to the flexible spring leg, said recess being closable by a bar adapted to the form of the recess, wherein the bar provides a blocking device for blocking the neutralizing of the holding force of the flexible spring leg.
 7. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the neutralizing device comprises a lever arm connected to the spring leg, the lever arm being operable for releasing the holding force of the spring leg.
 8. The fixing device according to claim 4, wherein the neutralizing device comprises a lever arm connected to the spring leg, the lever arm being operable for releasing the holding force of the spring leg.
 9. The fixing device according to claim 6, wherein the neutralizing device comprises a lever arm connected to the spring leg, the lever arm being operable for releasing the holding force of the spring leg.
 10. The fixing device according to claim 7, wherein the lever arm for releasing the holding force of the spring leg is formed in one-piece with the spring leg.
 11. The fixing device according to claim 8, wherein the lever arm for releasing the holding force of the spring leg is formed in one-piece with the spring leg.
 12. The fixing device according to claim 9, wherein the lever arm for releasing the holding force of the spring leg is formed in one-piece with the spring leg.
 13. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the neutralizing device comprises at least one take-up surface formed on the spring leg, which take-up surface operates in conjunction with an auxiliary tool for releasing the holding force of spring leg.
 14. The fixing device according to claim 4 wherein the neutralizing device comprises at least one take-up surface formed on the spring leg, which take-up surface operates in conjunction with an auxiliary tool for releasing the holding force of spring leg.
 15. A comb of a textile machine, the comb comprising: a fixing device for fixing toothed elements to the comb, the fixing device comprising: a stationary bearing surface against which the toothed elements bear; a flexible spring leg for pressing the toothed elements against the bearing surface, the flexible spring leg applying a holding force; and a device for neutralizing the holding force of the spring leg.
 16. The comb according to claim 15, wherein the flexible spring leg and the stationary bearing surface for the toothed elements are integrated in a one-piece supporting body for supporting the toothed elements.
 17. The comb according to claim 15, wherein said comb is a top comb or a circular comb.
 18. The comb according to claim 16, wherein said comb is a top comb or a circular comb.
 19. A card flat of a textile machine, the card flat comprising: a fixing device for fixing toothed elements to the card flat, the fixing device comprising: a stationary bearing surface against which the toothed elements bear; a flexible spring leg for pressing the toothed elements against the bearing surface, the flexible spring leg applying a holding force; and a device for neutralizing the holding force of the spring leg.
 20. The card flat according to claim 19, wherein the flexible spring leg and the stationary bearing surface for the toothed elements are integrated in a one-piece supporting body for supporting the toothed elements. 